Platenless typewriter



Feb. 8, 1949. c. w. DOHN rLATENLESS TYPEWRITER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1946 INVENTOR.

- CHARLES W.D 0HN I a v V AfiURNEYB Feb. 8, 1949. c. w. DOHN PLATENLESS TYPEWRITER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1946 N ESE INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. DOHN ATTD R N EYE Feb. 8, 1949. N 2,460,813

PLA'I'ENLESS- TYPEWRITER Filed Jun 24, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR.

CHARLES w. DOHN ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1949. c. w. DOHN PLATENLESS TYPEWRITER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 24, {1.946

FIGURE FIGURE u.

F l G U R E l2.

INVENTOR.

CHARLES w. DOHN ATT'D RN EYE Patented Feb. 8, 1949 PLATENLESS TYPEWRITER Charles W. Dohn, Glendale, N. Y. Application June 24, 1946, Serial No. 678,942

11 Claims.

My present invention relates to an improved platenless typewriter and more particularly to a typewriter designed to write or impress the type print upon paper or other material located under the machine. The typewriter of my invention does not require a platen roll and the machine is so constructed as to move relatively to the paper or other matter rather than have the paper move relative to the machine as is customary in the conventional machines. The machine may be modified so as to be used for writing upon vertically disposed material as well as horizontal as herein described and other and varied uses will be apparent.

According to my invention the machine is sup ported upon rollers spherical in shape, the rollers being journaled under the machine, and the movement of the type key moves the machine to the right over the paper while the line spacer moves the machine downward over the paper, and the line return moves the machine to the left over the paper stopping at a predetermined margin setting.

The machine oimy invention consists in novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of themachine of my invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the parts of the typewriter comprising my invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the spherical rollers and the journals therefor.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the roller and ball bearing.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the roller construction taken at line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the end of the spacer arm showing the detents engaging the notched wheel on the spacing shaft.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the margin limiting and setting mechanism.

Figure 8 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the line spacing mechanism as related to the shaft operation.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View of the line spacing mechanism as related to the operating lever.

Figure 11 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of the tension spring and the gears attached thereto for afiording motion to the spacer shaft.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein the structure shown will be construed as exemplary rather than limiting I have illustrated a sheet of paper as I, or other material upon which it is desired to write. writer of my invention consists in a case 2 hav ing ends 3 and carrying handles 4, and operating mechanism as hereinafter outlined.

The typewriter having the general appearance and operating structure of a conventional typewriter has keys 6 each having levers 8 operated thereby. A spacer key is shown at 18, a carriage release at I2, and a line lock as at M.

A margin indicator is provided as at !6 and the margin release key is shown at IT. A car.- riage shift key is provided at l9 and the, type levers H! are seen rearward of the case 2. Spools 2|! carry ribbon 22 through the ribbon carrier 24, and other conventional controls on the case include a back spacer key 26, a line spacer 28, a line space adjuster and a line resetter 32.

The case 2 of the typewriter is provided with legs 34 and these legs are fashioned with depending prongs or claws 35. Ball bearings 36 are seated in the prongs or claws and bear against the exterior of the spherical typewriter bearings 31. These spherical bearings 31 may be of suitable material such as metal, wood or plastic, and are covered with a rubber cover 38 or other suitable or desirable material capable of frictional contact with the ball bearings and the surface of the paper or other work upon which the machine is operating. 3

Referring now to the schematic showing of Figure 2, and the accompanying detail views, the key 6 and the lever 8 therefor terminate in a vertical arm 39 pivoted as at 40 on the machine. A lug 42 depends outwardly and downwardly from the vertical arm and is designed to engage the lever 44 which is pivoted on the machine as at 46 and is connected with the link 48, connecting the lever with the lug 50 on the type lever 18. The type levers I8 are mounted pivot-;

ally upon the type carrier 5!. At the upper portion of the type lever I8 I have illustrated conventional type, upper at 54 and lower at 52, and it will be understood that the type levers and the type thereon are of normal or usual design. Thus depression of a key 6 will through the linkage and lever connections actuate the type lever connected with the depressed key to im press through the ribbon, the character upon the paper I therebelow. w

Laterally carried by the machine and in the path of movement of'the vertical arm 39 of the key lever 8 is the universal bar 58. The universal bar 56 under movement of the arm 39 moves backward'againstthe tension of the spring The type- ,iof thessphere in on the-housing. l. '"This coil spring provides the power ifiortheemotion {of the carriage and the :mach-inewa'and ans 7 r 'In this structural employ :a :shafttt-Ilil 51 and the universal extended arm 58 suitably secured thereto. Upon this arm 58 I have'shown the spacer 69 having a fixed detent I52 and'a pivoted detent 64 pivoted I at 64a, and urged downwardly by spring 65 into 7 engagement with the toothed wheel 66. As the universal bar is moved forwardly by the spring 61 upon release of a depressed key lever, the

fixed detent is disengaged from the tooth oi the wheel and the pivoted springepressed idetent engaged with the next succeedingto'othth'eredf to allow movement of the toothed wheel one notch peripherally.

bar is fashioned with an pending upon the setting of the line space adjuster 30. V o

A link I32 is fashioned with a pin I33 and this link operably connects the lever I36 with the vertical shaft I36 by means of the shaft arm I35.

I The vertical shaft I35 is journalled in a bearing The toothed wheel 68' is fixedlyfseicuredsonsthe ,shaft 68 and near the end of the shaftfl .have

V imounted'bearing disks 70 formed wi'th'circmm ferential concave surfaces Emailing equal to theradius of the spherical rollers 31.

The surfacesof these bearing disks are "o'f 'a 'f-rictional material suitable to engage the surface none-slipping and positive engement.

FAISO onthis shaft :68 I employ a beveli. gear t' i rotatable therewith and :engag ing a' seconii bevel gear 16 onthe shaftJB whichshaftcarries atdial I38'on the frame of the machine and rotates therein.

outwardly and upwardlyextending prongs mt ronitheshait' i fifi are securedtoza'rring or-idisk hi2 "having "an open center "I M. A second separate .viertical shaft l4$ is journaled in the typewriter case and has a reduced end Mate receive the iendeoirt'hez l'ever 28. A disk ass on the lower end .iof the shaft I46 carries a dog [52 pivoted at I53 and 'springwressed as at I54 and said dog is entseag eahle-mithtaldetent I56 on the ring I42. Thus as the'lever 28 is moved clockwise, the disk I5 3 :l80-indicating 'themargins vfith'in-whichb it sdesired to confine the typewritten matter -=en the -paper I. V

A lug 82 anda 0am lug s ontthe under-lside of the dial 80 provide-limits forithe movementiof'the machine and the limits may he s'et byxmove- --ment ofv the left margin set 188 'andithe ri-ght ":marginssetlfifii I a a w I Argear 90 on theshaftfitl engagesa :gea-r BZ "journaled with relation tollthe housingflii onthe shaft, 98. A' fiat 'co'il spring1I'fl0'fisnpositioned within the housing and'one end l'ili engagesithe shaft 98 while the other end H.122 uisaanchored thedeten't 62 moves out ofaengagement-withithe too'thed wheel 66. on theshaftfiB, thetshaft'fis per- 'mitted to turn a distanceequal tozonemotchhy v the tension of the spring I 69. fimdthera-wnrdsgit A the release of the fixed detentifizandthe concomitant engagement of the a stepping :dog

' ithe wheel .55, that permits med-smatteto7ttmn having bearing disks thereon asjlii'z concave ra similar to the disks I6 above -:'described. These 3 disks I I 2 are adapted to engage'therspherical "hell- 1 -'ers3;I-under control-of the line ;spacing alieaerxmi as will be 'hereinafter described.

'The shaft H9 and the diskskl-li-zxare maintained in contact'w'ith theb'earings. 31 bysmeansi ofxlevers 4 j'IISan'd springs I I8. 0n the:shaftil iflfisaazratchet wheel {I I and the detent 5 22 press byzsp'ring I 23iprevents retrograde :movement-iof-tthe shaft. A dog 'I2dpivoted at I onithe' lever. ailmen- The pawl I25 is :also flpivotedlzonntheiilever :which lever is rotatablytmountedion:thezshaitlstfl.

' "Thepawl 12s is designedto engageitheiteethsef --"rota'teswithin the ring I42 until the dog I52 engages the detent to rotate the ring and its shaft .133. "LEIhrough: the'flinkagezthe.shaft :Iil ii is 1'0- tated1ahdithe diskszzIi2 vengagethesp'herical' bear-- -ings 3.1.-'to;:rotate cthem: and: therebyitozmovethe machine :the :ipredetermined :number .of spaces downward. i theidog IiI {iii-continues :itsaswing after :passing :the :detent; .itgreaches the abutment thesucceeding-"letter itoshe ltyped, and the :shaft tl'lill providesifforxthe'amovement;iongitudinally to :carry theI-vmachine.successivelyitoitheznext line -=position andito the beginning. :o'tithe: next lineto ZZBythe =use:ofsthezmachine :of;myiinvention;ithere is no limit to the size or character of thesmate- V fines the action of the pawl mfiwndcthapinstfi; 7.7 0

imachine may be place'dzup'o normal typing skill is required.

Havingt'husafullydescribedsmyzinventionxwhat I claiincas new and idesire'atousecure*bySLetters Patent ist 1. In a typewijiter movahlerover the ima'terial *receiving theWriting, thecombination' Witheupporting spheres for the typewriter, of ineansixfcr revelvi-ng the spheres tolimove rithe utypewriter laterally -:and long-itudinally'minder aCt1I8|fiO11=IOf the keysand line spacingilever; respectively, of the typewriter. e

2. In a' typewritervmovahie :cyerithe material receiving thevwriting; the cornhination with supporting spheresfijournaledi-f the' typewriter,- of disks engagea-ble with'fthe' spheresto revolve the spheres and means fQITOtSIHQg-f the disks.

' V 3:111; altype'writer movable over the material receiving the-writing, the; combinationwith supporting spheres Z'jour'naled in 'thetypewr"iter,tof disks engageahle with hthemspheres to levo'lve the spheres, an axl'e forqthedisks, and means for-"ro- 4. In a a typewriter movable over the lmaterial receiving'zthe .-writing, the-combination :with supithe "ratchet wheel 'tze andito1move the ratchet iporting .rspheres journaled pin the -'.-typewriter, of

" -wheel' and shaft 'a pre'determined:distaneesde- T disks engageable with the spheres ,r-to revolve .the

spheres, a spring-pressed axle for the disks, and means for rotating the axle.

5. In a typewriter movable over the material receiving the writing, the combination with supporting spheres journaled in the typewriter, of concave, frictional-surfaced disks engageable with the spheres, an axle for the disks, and means for rotating the axle.

6. In a typewriter movable over the material receiving the writing, the combination with supporting spheres journaled in the typewriter, of sphere engaging disks, an axle for the disks, a notched wheel on the axle rotatable therewith, a universal bar movable under actuation of a key, and means on the universal bar operable under movement of said bar to release the wheel and permit movement thereof to revolve the spheres.

'7. In a typewriter movable over the material receiving the writing, the combination with supporting spheres journaled in the typewriter, of sphere engaging disks, a spring rotated axle for the disks, a notched wheel on the axle rotatable therewith, a universal bar movable under actuation of a key, and a spring returned detent on the bar operable under movement of said bar to release the wheel and permit the axle to be rotated by its spring to revolve the spheres.

8. In a typewriter movable over the material receiving the writing, the combination with supporting spheres journaled in the typewriter, of sphere engaging disks, an axle for the disks, a lever having an arcuate swing, and means operable by the lever during the first portion of its swing for rotating the axle to move the typewriter longitudinally, the second portion of the swing of said lever causing the means to abut the typewriter frame to move the typewriter laterally.

9. In a typewriter movable over the material receiving the writing, the combination with supporting spheres journaled in the typewriter, of rotatable means engageable with said spheres for revolving the spheres to move the typewriter longitudinally, means for actuating said rotatable means including a vertically disposed shaft having a horizontally positioned ring on the upper end thereof, means connecting the vertically disposed shaft to the rotatable means, an upper shaft aligned with the said vertically disposed shaft and having a disk thereon positioned to coact with the ring of the vertically disposed shaft, interengaging means on said ring and disk, and a hand lever carried by the said upper shaft.

10. In a typewriter movable over the material receiving the writing, the combination with supporting spheres journaled in the typewriter, of disks engageable with the spheres, a horizontally disposed shaft on which the sphere engaging disks are mounted, means for actuating said horizontally disposed shaft including a vertically disposed shaft having a horizontally positioned ring on the upper end thereof, means operatively connecting the vertically disposed shaft to the horizontally disposed shaft, an upper shaft aligned with the said vertically disposed shaft and having a disk thereon positioned to coact with the ring of the vertically disposed shaft, interengaging means on said ring and disk, and a hand lever carried by the said upper shaft.

11. In a typewriter movable over the material receiving the writing, the combination with supporting spheres journaled in the typewriter, of

disks engageable with the spheres, an axle for the disks, an operating lever, a shaft operably connected with said axle and a ring on the shaft, an aligned shaft connected with the operating lever and having a disk, a spring-pressed dog on the disk, a detent on the ring adapted to be engaged by the dog during a partial movement of the lever to revolve the spheres to move the typewriter longitudinally, and a typewriter supported abutment engageable by the dog during the further movement of the lever, to move the typewriter laterally.

CHARLES W. DOHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 444,119 Boruif Jan. 6, 1891 1,026,619 Wissner May 14, 1912 1,048,878 Ranney Dec. 31, 1912 1,723,240 Heiel Aug. 6, 1929 

